Yarn winding apparatus

ABSTRACT

A yarn transfer device for use with a yarn windup of the type which is provided with rotatable package supports carried on chucks alternately movable into surface driven engagement with a drive roll on the windup. When actuated, the transfer device swings into engagement with a driven chuck carrying an empty support, cuts the yarn advancing to the package being doffed and threads the severed end of the feed yarn through a hollow shaft in the chuck by means of an air transport system. The severed end of yarn is centrifugally clamped in the driven chuck shaft until the centrifugal force applied drops low enough to release it to the end of the package support forming a readily accessible transfer tail thereon.

[451 Sept. 25, 1973 United States Patent [191 Seney YARN WINDINGAPPARATUS Primary Examiner-Stanley N. Gilreath Assistant ExaminerMiltonS. Gerstein Attorney-Howard P. West, Jr.

[75] Inventor: John Seymour Seney, Seaford, Del.

EJ. Du Pont de Nemours Company, Wilmington, Del.

[73] Assignee:

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yarn advancing to the package being doffed and threads the severed endof the feed yarn through a hollow shaft in the chuck by means of an airtransport c W W 0 P P 8500 Mb 25 46 B8 -l A a 8 4 H 2 2 n 4 u 2 m m "mmr J l d s m UhF 111 111 2 8 555 [11.

system. The severed end of yarn is centrifugally clamped in the drivenchuck shaft until the centrifugal [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS force applied drops low enough to release it to the end of thepackage support forming a readily accessible transfer tail thereon.

3,310,247 3/1967 Emery. 242/18 A 3,428,266 2/1969 242/18 PW 9 Claims, 8Drawing Figures PATENTEDSEPZSIBYS SHEET 3 BF 4 FIG.5

M U g 8 YARN WINDING APPARATUS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONThis application is a continuation-in-part of my copending applicationSer. No. 56,501 filed July 20, 1970 and now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to awinding apparatus and, more particularly, to the equipment with whichyarn, advancing continuously from a source, is wound on successivepackages.

Windups which include a print or drive roll to which yarn advances froma reciprocating traverse guide and from which yarn is deposited on asurface driven package are known. To avoid waste during doffing suchWindups have been provided with rotatable chucks alternately movableinto surface driven engagement with the drive roll and auxiliaryequipment for accomplishing transfer of the yarn from a full to an emptysupport package carried by a chuck.

It is also known in the art to include a transfer tail in the initiallength of yarn wound on a support. The purpose in providing a transfertail on the yarn package is to enable an uninterrupted flow of yarn fromone package to another in textile processes by providing an end lengthof yarn that is freely available for tying to the leading end of anadjacent package.

Equipment is available for winding yarn with transfer tails on packagesupports'and securing the tail thereto. For example, the windingoperation may be initiated by snagging the running yarn in snaring andsevering elements on the chucks to secure the transfer tail thereto. Awindup of this type incorporating such equipment is disclosed by Emeryin U. S. Pat. No. 3,310,247, dated Mar. 21, 1967.

Although this technique is effective for severing then holding thestarting end of yarn securely in position during winding, the transfertail is not readily accessible when the time comes for doffing thepackage and it must be manually untangled from the cutter mechanismbefore the package can be doffed. It is highly desirable to eliminatethe need for this time consuming step.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A yarn transfer device for use in a windupwhich includes a frame, a drive roll, a plurality of rotatable chuckshaving yarn package supports thereon mounted to the frame for alternatemovement into surface driven engagement with the drive roll and atraverse guide through which yarn advances around the drive roll to apackage support on a driven chuck. The transfer device includes anelongated housing which has a yarn cutting means at one end, an openended passage is formed in the housing, the chucks are equipped withhollow tubular shafts and a waste port is located in the frame. When thehousing is in position for transferring the yarn, the cutting meanssevers the yarn which is threaded through the passage, the tubular chuckshaft and into the waste port by means of an air transport system.Subsequently, the yarn is positioned on the driven support for winding apackage and the length of yarn leading to the waste port is cut off atthe waste port and forms a tail inside the chuck shaft for the packagebeing wound. A clamping device for holding the tail in the shaft forslow release and winding on the end of the package support after thepackage: reaches a particular size is also contemplated as well as aguide linked to the operation of the housing for moving yarn to and froman engaging position with the traverse guide during transfer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side view of a windup intowhich the transfer device of this invention has been incorporated;

FIG. 2 is an abbreviated view similar to FIG. 1, show ing the yarntransferdevice in operative engagement with the windup;

FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view of FIG. 2 taken along 4-4;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of FIG. 4 showing the yarn clampingmeans;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the yarn clamping means of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the control features for thewindup and the transfer device;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective illustration of the yarn cutting meansmounted on the transfer device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. l-3,it will be seen that the windup chosen for purposes of illustrationincludes generally, as components thereof, an equipment frame 10, a pairof articulated swing arms 12, 14 mounted for relative rotation about acommon pivot 16, rotatable chucks 18, 20 on stub shafts at theextremities of arms 12, 14, a drive roll 22, a reciprocating traverseguide 24 through which yarn 26 normally advances around drive' roll 22to a package 28 on chuck 20 and a transfer device 50.

At the timed completion of package 28, a piston and cylinder assembly 32and coupled linkages are actuated to release a pawl 34 and to preparethe illustrated cams for descent of arm 14 to a point where the stubshaft rests on a cradle 36. Simultaneously, a piston and cylinderassembly 38 is actuated to withdraw a brake shoe 40, against the bias ofa spring (not shown) so that the chuck will continue to rotate and takeup yarn when it reaches the position shown in phantom at 20'. A pistonand cylinder assembly 41 is actuated to pivot a latch 42 clockwise,thereby releasing arm 12 from its ready" position to one in which anempty support tube 44 on chuck 18 is in surface driven engagement withdrive roll 22.

As described more fully hereinafter, the descent of package 28 trips aswitch 46 to initiate pivotal movement of device 50 to a level position(FIG. 2) beneath drive roll 22 and in engagement with the driven butempty package support 44. When yarn 26 has been transferred to and iswinding on support 44, device 50 is returned to the position shown inFIG. 1 and braking means (not shown) engages chuck 20'. This leavespackage 28 ready for doffing, which is accomplished after arm 14 hasbeen swung manually to a position where it is held in a notch 48 onlatch 42. After replacement of the full package with an empty tube 44,arm 14 remains in this position while the package is being built onchuck 18. his then automatically unlatched at 48 and swung further tothe ready position, i.e., before the instant of transfer, to theposition shown for arm 12 in FIG. I. In the meantime, a package is beingbuilt on chuck 18.

In general, yarn transfer device 50 includes an elongated frame member52 mounted for swinging movement about shaft 54 attached to frame 10.Member 52 is under lateral tension by spring 56 which coacts with theframe member, the shaft 54 and cam 58 on the outboard end of the shaftto urge the transfer device into engagement with chuck 18. Arm 51pivotally attached at one end to cylinder 30 couples to duct section 53hinged to frame 52 via leaf spring 55 attached to the arm. A fixed stop57 is keyed to shaft 54 and an adjustable stop 59 adapted to engage thefixed stop is connected to frame member 52. A centrally located slot 60runs longitudinal through one end of frame member 52. At this same endof member 52 is located a yarn tension control jet 62 supplied with airthrough port 64. The jet functions to take up any slack that may developin the yarn 26 running to an undriven package being doffed. This insuresthat the yarn remains under uniform tension in the bottom of slot 60.Adjacent the jet is an electromagnetically operated cutting means 66comprised of shear elements 65, 67 disposed on opposite sides of theyarn path through slot 60. Cutting means 66 is activated by energizingsolenoid .69 encircling the extended shaft 68 of shear element 67.Retraction of shaft 68 into coil 69 moves the threadline 26 to position26' where it is severed between the shear elements 65, 67 (FIG. 8).

In order to get into slot 60, the yarn 26 is first disengaged fromtraverse guide 24 by guide 31 positioned above drive roll 22 (FIG. 2).This guide is mounted for pivotal movement about fixed pin 33 andoperated for simultaneous movement with transfer device 50 such movementbeing made via double acting pneumatic cylinder 70 which is pivotallymounted on traverse housing 71 and connected to guide 31. Pneumaticcylinder 70 is operated through air lines 70a, 70b simultaneously withcylinder 30 which operates transfer device 50. When device 50 is movedinto transfer position (FIG. 2), guide 31 disengages yarn 26 fromtraverse guide 24 and moves it to the alternate path indicated as 26'which movement along with the action of jet 62 allows the yarnto alignwith and enter into slot 60. When transfer device 50 is moved out ofposition, cylinder 70 is operated to move guide 31 back toward housing71 releasing yam 26 so it will again be engaged by traverse guide 24.

The structure of chucks 18, 20 has been shown in detail in FIGS. 4-6 andin general each chuck includes a body 70, rotatably mounted on a hollowtubular shaft 72 fixed to swing arm 12 which in turn is held in readyposition by latch 42. An elbow 11 in frame places one end of shaft 72 incommunication with a waste port 13 in the frame. The other end of theshaft is in communication with one end of passage 74 in duct 53. Passage74 is open on one side as shown but is enclosed when frame member 52 isin the position shown in FIG. 2. The other end of passage 74 opens toslot 60 and opposite this end is a nozzle 76 connected to an air supplyport 78.

Centrifugal clamping means 80 are mounted in body 70 and cooperate withthe shaft for holding severed yarn in the shaft during part of theformation of a package. An outwardly biased seal 79 is coupled withclamping means 80 to initiate its operation as well as provide for acontinuity of passage 74 and the hollow shaft 72 through rotating innershaft tube 73 attached to clamping means 80. The rotation of tube 73prevents twisting yarn 26 while a package is being wound.

Referring to FIGS. 5-6, it will be seen that clamping means 80 comprisesan inner bolt section 82 being solid on one end and hollow on the otherend, fitted into an outer tube 84 having one end closed by a solidportion 86. Section 82 is fitted with a spring loaded pin 88 whichpenetrates opposed slots 81 in section 84. In the position shown, pin 88engages the upper edge 83 of slot 81 preventing outward movement of tube84. Attached to seal 79 is another spring loaded pin 85 which engagespin 88 with an end that is slightly smaller than the opposed end of pin88. Pin 87 locks bolt 82 into body member 70. Spring 89 around section82 biases section 84 of the clamp inwardly toward the center of thechuck.

The condition of various related control components while a package isbeing wound on chuck 20 has been shown schematically in FIG. 7.Completion of the package is determined by a timer 120 which closes aswitch 122 to connect solenoids 124, 126 and 128a to the illustratedsource of power 121. With the energization of solenoid 124, a coupledvalve plug 130 is rotated to admit air under pressure to assemblies 38,41 thereby withdrawing brake shoe and releasing arm 12 from its readyposition. Energization of solenoid 128a pulls the spring biased actuatoron coupled valve plug 132 to the right, thereby delivering air throughconduit 100 to swing transfer device 50 to its operable position (FIG.2) and supply air to tension control jet 62 and the back end of cylinder70. Energization of solenoid 126 rotates a coupled valve plug 134 to itssecond position in which thelower ends of cylinders 30, 32 and the frontend of cylinder 70 are exhausted to atmosphere. Resulting movement ofthe associated linkages causes clockwise rotation of pawl 34, permittingdescent of arm 14. In its movement, pawl 34 also reverses the positionof switch 136, thereby de-energizing solenoid 126 and energizing asolenoid 138. Deenergization of solenoid 126 permits thecounterclockwise return of valve plug l34to supply air to the lower endof cylinder 30 and both ends of cylinder 32.

With both ends of cylinder 32 pressurized, the piston therein returnsrelatively slowly to its initial position. Responsive to the action of aspring, pawl 34 also returns to its initial position where it can blockdescent of arm 12. In the meantime, momentary energization of solenoid138 has opened switch 140 which then closes against the action of anattached dashpot, thereby insuring that solenoid 126 will not beenergized a second time during the doffing cycle. Yarn guide 31 movesyarn 26 from traverse guide 24 and it then follows a path through slot60 to the full package which still has enough rotational inertia to takeup yarn.

The descent of a full package trips and closes switch 46, closing thecircuit to a solenoid 142 which reverses the position of a switch 144.The latter action energizes coil 69 to operate cutting means 66 andenergizes solenoid 128!) which pulls the actuator on valve plug 132 topressurize conduit 102 admitting air to the nozzle 76 through air supplyport 78 (FIG. 4). At the instant the yarn is severed, air from nozzle 76forces the severed yarn end through passage 74 around guide pins 75, 77in duct 53, seal 79, through rotating tube 73 inside shaft 72, elbow 11and through port 13 in frame 10 to a waste collecting system (not shown)in communication with port 13. Guide pins 75, 77 serve to prevent theyarn from snagging at the inside corners of passage 74.

Pressurization of the lower end of cylinder 30 moves transfer device 50back to the position shown in FIG. 1 and returns guide 31 to itsoriginal position. When the transfer mechanism 50 clears bobbin 44 onchuck 18, latch 42 drops arm 12 to the winding position on shoulder 43of the latch (FIG. 4). This movement of shaft 72 past spring loadedelbow 11, the contacting surfaces (Ilia, 72a) of which form a sharpshear, cuts the yarn inside the shaft 72 forming a uniform lengthtransfer tail for the package being wound.

The yarn clamping means 80 has as its prime purpose the retention of thetransfer tail in the shaft 72 so that it will not be whipped out of theshaft after it has been cut and become overwound into the package whenthe package is just starting to be formed. Later as the package buildsup in size, the bobbin rotational speed has decreased until thecentrifugal force can no longer maintain the clamp closed on the yarnand the tail is then slowly released from rotating tube 73 and winds onthe outer end of bobbin 44 to form a readily accessible transfer tail ofuniform length. In its operation contact of duct 53 and seal 79 (FIGS.4-6) forces the seal back into chuck l8 and pin 88 is forced back intobolt section 82 by pin 85 carried by seal 79. This places pin $8 insidetube 84 and tube 84 due to centrifugal force from rotating chuck 18,moves outward against pin 85 and the clamp St is cocked for action. Whenduct 53 is swung away from seal 79, the seal moves outward withdrawingpin 85 from its locking position in slot 81 allowing full closure (dueto centrifugal force) of tube 84 against bolt section 82, thus, clampingthe yarn in tube 73. As the package builds up and the bobbin rotationalspeed decreases, spring 89 opens the clamp against the reducedcentrifugal force on tube 84.

in an actual embodiment, all of the functional events described inconnection with transfer device 50 and its operation occur within arelatively short period of time. Thus, yarn is not only transferredreliably and uniformly but also with the formation of defect free,unattached transfer tails, permitting truly automatic donning anddrifting.

it is apparent that many changes and modifications of the disclosedwindup may be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention which is accordingly intended to be limited only by the scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. in a winding apparatus of the type which includes a frame, a driveroll and a plurality of rotatable chucks having yarn supports thereonmounted to said frame for alternate movement into surface drivenengagement with said drive roll around which yarn normally advances in apath to a package support on a driven chuck, a device for initiatingwinding the yarn on a driven support and severing the yarn while it isstill advancing to a full package on another chuck said devicecomprising: an elongated member provided with means for cutting yarnadjacent one of its ends, said member having a passage therethrough,said chucks having tubular shafts, there being a port in said frame;means mounting said member for swinging movement of said one end to aposition adjacent said driven chuck, said cutting means and one end ofsaid passage being in alignment with said path and the tubular shaft ofthe driven chuck being in communication with the other end of saidpassage and said port when said one end of said member is at saidposition; and means coupled with said member for swinging it to saidposition then actuating said cutting means and threading the severedyarn through said passage, said shaft and said port.

2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, said means for threading thesevered yarn through the passage, the shaft and the port being an airtransport system comprising an air supply nozzle on the opposite side ofthe yarn path from said one end of the passage and a waste collectingsystem in communication with said port.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including centrifugal clampingmeans coupled with said shaft for holding the severed yarn within thetubular shaft during a part of the formation of the package.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, including cooperating means onsaid shaft and said port for severing the yarn during said alternatemovement.

5. In a winding apparatus of the type which includes a frame, a driveroll, a pair of rotatable chucks having yarn package supports thereonmounted to said frame for alternate movement into surface drivenengagement with said drive roll and a traverse guide through which yarnnormally advances around the drive roll to a package support on a drivenchuck, a device for initiating winding the yarn on the driven supportand severing the yarn while it is still advancing in a path to a fullpackage on the other chuck, said device comprising: an elongated housingprovided with a means for cutting yarn adjacent one of its ends, saidhousing having a pas sage therethrough, said chucks having tubularshafts, there being a port in said frame; means mounting said housingfor swinging movement of said one end to a position adjacent said drivenchuck, said cutting means and one end of said passage being in alignmentwith said path, the tubular shaft of a driven chuck being incommunication with the other end of said passage and said port when saidone end of said housing is at said position; means coupled to saidhousing for sequen tially swinging it to said position and actuating thecutting means for severing the yarn; an air transport system forthreading the severed yarn through said passage, said shaft and saidport; and clamping means coupled with said shaft for holding the severedyarn within the shaft during initial formation of a package.

6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, including co operating means onsaid shaft and said port for severing the yarn at said port during saidalternate movement.

7. The apparatus as defined in. claim 5, including means for maintainingtension on said yarn advancing to a full package on another chuck.

8. The apparatus as defined in claim 5, said chucks having rotatabletubular shafts.

9. The apparatus as defined in. claim 5, including guide means mountedin the passage of the housing.

1. In a winding apparatus of the type which includes a frame, a driveroll and a plurality of rotatable chucks having yarn supports thereonmounted to said frame for alternate movement into surface drivenengagement with said drive roll around which yarn normally advances in apath to a package support on a driven chuck, a device for initiatingwinding the yarn on a driven support and severing the yarn while it isstill advancing to a full package on another chuck said devicecomprising: an elongated member provided with means for cutting yarnadjacent one of its ends, said member having a passage therethrough,said chucks having tubular shafts, there being a port in said frame;means mounting said member for swinging movement of said one end to aposition adjacent said driven chuck, said cutting means and one end ofsaid passage being in alignment with said path and the tubular shaft ofthe driven chuck being in communication with the other end of saidpassage and said port when said one end of said member is at saidposition; and means coupled with said member for swinging it to saidposition then actuating said cutting means and threading the severedyarn through said passage, said shaft and said port.
 2. The apparatus asdefined in claim 1, said means for threading the severed yarn throughthe passage, the shaft and the port being an air transport systemcomprising an air supply nozzle on the opposite side of the yarn pathfrom said one end of the passage and a waste collecting system incommunication with said port.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1,including centrifugal clamping means coupled with said shaft for holdingthe severed yarn within the tubular shaft during a part of the formationof the package.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, includingcooperating means on said shaft and said port for severing the yarnduring said alternate movement.
 5. In a winding apparatus of the typewhich includes a frame, a drive roll, a pair of rotatable chucks havingyarn package supports thereon mounted to said frame for alternatemovement into surface driven engagement with said drive roll and atraverse guide through which yarn normally advances around the driveroll to a package support on a driven chuck, a device for initiatingwinding the yarn on the driven support and severing the yarn while it isstill advancing in a path to a full package on the other chuck, saiddevice comprising: an elongated housing provided with a means forcutting yarn adjacent one of its ends, said housing having a passagetherethrough, said chucks having tubular shafts, there being a port insaid frame; means mounting said housing for swinging movement of saidone end to a position adjacent said driven chuck, said cutting means andone end of said passage being in alignment with said path, the tubularshaft of a driven chuck being in communication with the other end ofsaid passage and said port when said one end of said housing is at saidposition; means coupled to said housing for sequentially swinging it tosaid position and actuating the cutting means for severing the yarn; anair transport system for threading the severed yarn through saidpassage, said shaft and said port; and clamping means coupled with saidshaft for holding the severed yarn within the shaft during initialformation of a package.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 5,including cooperating means on said shaft and said port for severing theyarn at said port during said alternate movement.
 7. The apparatus asdefined in claim 5, including means for maintaining tension on said yarnadvancing to a full package on another chuck.
 8. The apparatus asdefined in claim 5, said chucks having rotatable tubular shafts.
 9. Theapparatus as defined in claim 5, including guide means mounted in thepassage of the housing.